The Possibility Of Legalization Cannabis Throughout The United States As A Medical Option For Cancer Patients
For those who don’t know, cannabis can be known as a tall plant in which it produces hemp fiber as well as a psychotropic drug. Furthermore it is capable of altering one's mind, emotions, and behavior. This question is an important topic to discuss because is currently no cure for cancer although medical marijuana could be an alternative for patients diagnosed with cancer. Also with some cancer patients eager to find some type of way to help fight or just reduce pain from the cancer disease. Some could be looking at the option of cannabis although with this drug only being legalised in certain states throughout the United States, many don’t have access to using this substance as a medical option.
Following this there are obviously two different sides in this debate of whether or not medical cannabis should be legalised for cancer patients. So one side that agrees with the legalization of cannabis can arguably depict that cancer patients can benefit from cannabis for treating nausea, vomiting, and also some types on neuropathic pain, including causing death in some types of cancer cells. In which treating these symptoms with use of medical marijuana can help cancer patients fight their diagnosed disease while still maintaining a healthy conscious as well as digesting food, and even possibly kill their cancer completely.
On the other hand those who oppose of the legalization of medical cannabis say it due more harm than good. Such as creating disorientation, paranoia, anxiety, blood pressure changes, slower range of muscle movements in patients. With these symptoms patients can cause harm to themselves without trying to do so, such as falling or walking into something. Also with paranoia and anxiety causing stress, cells can be invasive making cancer spread and grow easily. Blood pressure changes can have a risk of death for these patients. And slower range of muscle movement make it harder for patients to carry out daily tasks.
In the first citation from american cancer society it states “People who have had emotional illnesses, paranoia, or hallucinations may find their symptoms are worse when taking cannabinoid drugs.” This statement backs the claim that cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant can worsen a cancers patients emotional state with a brain tumor.
On the contrary Dr. Sanchez from the second citation states “We now know that the endocannabinoid system regulates a lot of biological functions such as appetite, food intake, motor function, reproduction and many others and that is why the plant has such a wide therapeutic potential,” from her research with cannabinoids and cancer she has seen it be beneficial for regulating symptoms like vomiting.
Also the third citation from researcher Grime supports the use of cannabis for some substances contained in the plant have shown and been diagnosed to help patients with nausea;“There was also good evidence that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, can reduce the nausea caused by chemotherapy. Indeed, a synthetic form of THC, called dronabinol, has been prescribed for just this use for decades.”
Back to the opposing side of legalizing cannabis there's a suggestion that through the use of smoking it, it can actually cause lung cancer as stated in the fourth citation text from the recovery village organization, “When you smoke anything, and you’re inhaling it into your lungs, there’s the potential for damage, and you may be at a higher risk of getting cancer”. Arguably the use of cannabis from cancer patients can cause both negative and positive effects on their body which goes back to the debate on whether or not it should be legalized for medical use and benefits, while also still causing more medical problems in patients.
All in all the legalization of medical cannabis should be legalised throughout the United States, specifically for cancer patients because they are one’s of who need it most in their struggle to battle cancer. Also with specific cannabinoids extracted from the plant they can be individually used to fight off specific cancer cells such as CBD (Cannabidiol). Furthermore this will give cancer patients throughout the country an option to use this kind of drug for cancer treatment.
